Nations unite to save endangered birds of prey

An international agreement to conserve
endangered migratory birds of prey in Europe, Africa and Asia was
discussed in October 2007 at an intergovernmental negotiation
conference hosted by the UK Government in Scotland. It was attended
by experts and government representatives from 60
countries.

Eagles, falcons, sparrowhawks, buzzards, red
kites and osprey are amongst the 77 birds which could benefit from
such a treaty under the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species
(CMS). As top predators, raptors are sensitive indicators of
the condition of the environments they pass through, such as
changes in the global climate which can affect wildlife and
people. They play a key role in the ecology of the habitats
they use during their migration and without them the ecological
character of these habitats would be degraded. These
extraordinary birds are also attractions for tourism ventures along
their migratory routes.

A variety of human-induced threats are driving declines in
migratory birds of prey, such as habitat loss and degradation,
collisions with aerial structures and electrocution by power
lines. Climate change is a further concern.

“There is no doubt these magnificent birds are
under serious threat. Our commitment to their conservation is
clear. The Government has brought together experts from
around the world to develop this action plan. I have pledged
an initial £10,000 towards the practical conservation work that an
agreement will undertake.

“This agreement would build on current
conservation efforts. In the UK we have had success at
re-introducing the red kite in England and Scotland, the sea eagle
to Scotland, and are working to extend the range of the
osprey. The agreement would address the future problems that
climate change will bring to these migratory birds, and has the
potential to contribute to our objective of reducing the rate of
biodiversity loss by 2010.”

The aim of such an international action plan
is to bring together expertise from around the world to monitor and
protect these birds, combat the threats they face, and raise funds
for future conservation activity. The joint actions of
countries along the international flyways of raptors are critical
for the conservation of these migrants.

In 2005, an independent study commissioned by
Defra found that more than 50% of the birds likely to be covered by
the agreement are rare or endangered. Some are showing signs
of rapid or long-term decline. It confirmed that an
international action plan would benefit the conservation of these
birds.

The meeting discussed the geographical
boundaries of the agreement, the species to be covered, and the
type of treaty – concluding that a Memorandum of Understanding
would be an effective option, given that it would be rapidly
implemented.

The meeting was organised in partnership with:
the United Arab Emirates Environment Agency (who will host the
final negotiating meeting in October this year); CMS; JNCC;
Birdlife International; RSPB; the Scottish Government; SNH and the
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.